Ascent of North Sister on 2015-03-09

Ascent Trip Report

Camped at 8000' on SE ridge. On approach slipped on ice on SE ridge, broke my thumb and almost slid right off the ridge to the glacier below. Started up SE Ridge at 4AM, soloed Terrible Traverse & Bowling Alley without pro...SCARY. Bowling Alley was 70 degree ice. True summit was nearly vertical solid ice. Used ice tools & crampons all day. Rappelled Bowling Alley with 70m rope off a picket over overhanging ice. Lots of icefall; I was almost hit on Terrible Traverse. Another party was hit by falling ice (luckily uninjured) before Terrible Traverse & turned back because they didn't have ice tools. Scary winter climb!